Publication Order of Standalone Novels

Ian Fleming Biography:

Ian Lancaster Fleming was born on May 28, 1908 in the wealthy district of London. His mother was a daughter of a solicitor and she was known for her great beauty whiles his father was the grandson of a banker. Ian’s father was a member of the parliament and served in the navy during the First World War. Peter, his eldest brother was a travel writer. He worked in the navy during the Second World War and it was his experiences that contributed most to his writings.

Early Education

Being a member of the London elite assured Ian Fleming a place in England’s best educational institutions. At the age of six, he entered a preparatory school named Durnford School, which is a preparatory school. He found his school life disgusting. He disliked the food and the children were exposed to bullying and physical hardship. After Durnford School, he entered Eton and excelled in athletics. His writing ability was already unfolding and he served as editor of the school magazine.

Just like young men coming from affluent families during those times, Ian Fleming spent his time having fun and women. With a famous name and a flashy car, women became attracted to him easily. Because of his attitude in school, the headmaster convinced Ian’s mother to send him to a military school before his last term. He entered military training but he left without earning a commission. It was clear that Ian Fleming was not military material.

His mother wanted to prepare him for a foreign diplomat’s career and so, he was sent to a small private school in Austria to study under a former British spy, who had a novelist wife. He got engaged with the family’s daughter but his mother opposed the romance and he was called to return home. His mother persuaded him to join the family banking business after his stint in Austria.

Fleming’s Works

His family convinced him to become a banker, just like the other members of the family. He held a position in a financial company and also tried his hands as a stock broker. He was not good in both and he decided to stop.

After his banking job, he was recruited into the navy. The admiral was not good in handling people and because Ian Fleming has good management skills and good personality, he was chosen to be the liaison officer of the admiral. Ian Fleming made memos and later, he was involved in making many strategic plans for the Allied Forces to win the Second World War. He was exposed to espionage work and became connected with what later became the Central Intelligence Agency or CIA of the United States of America. He was put in charge of an intelligence network in Spain just in case the Germans occupy the region. He formed a commando unit for the purpose of intelligence gathering and it was successful.

Fleming’s Books

After the war, he worked in a newspaper company. In 1950, he talked with friends about his plan to write a novel about spying. Using the experiences and knowledge he gained during the war, he was able to finish in two months his first spy novel, Casino Royale and his hero, James Bond, a spy, was born. His code name was 007 and he was a commander in the Royal Naval Reserve. The name James Bond was copied from the name of an expert on birds in the Caribbean and an author of a book about birds.

The books was said to lack the element of suspense and publishers were reluctant to print it. However, Ian’s eldest brother Peter, who was a writer, used his influence to have the book published. To everyone’s amazement, the book was a great success.

The James Bond Series

From 1953-1966, Ian Fleming was able to publish 12 books with James Bond 007, as the main character. James Bond works for the Secret Intelligence Service, simply known as M16. All the other characters in his books were named after his relatives, friends, and acquaintances while James Bond has most of Ian’s character traits. James Bond love scrambled eggs and gambling. James Bond even use the brand of toiletries that Ian Fleming liked.

However, the James Bond series were criticized for its lack of ethical standards and the popularity of the books went down. Ian Fleming on his part lost confidence on his writing skills. In 1961, From Russia With Love was listed as among the favorite books of the US president and again, Fleming’s books soared in popularity. Despite the criticisms, people continued to read his books and he was considered the US biggest-selling crime writer during that time.

Non-fiction Stories

Drawing from his experience in the navy and in espionage, Ian Fleming produced non-fiction stories that also sold well. They contain his memories while traveling and stories about true crimes. His well-known non-fiction works were The Diamond Smugglers and Thrilling Cities.

Books Made Into Movies

While some critics considered the works of James Bond as too shallow, they became hits when they were made into movies. Goldfinger was considered the best with the worst villain any James Bond movi ever had. The moviegoers cannot get enough of the witty dialogue, the setting, the cars, the soundtrack, and all other touches that make the movie markedly that of James Bond.

Although criticisms were made on the way the shallowness of the stories, it is clear that there are universal themes shown. These are good versus evil, wherein the good always triumphs; treachery especially from within, which means that in many instances, one member of the group becomes a traitor; and loyalty and friendship, which is commonly depicted in most James Bond novels.

Fleming’s Legacy

Many of James Bond movies were made after Ian Fleming’s death and they all became blockbuster movies. Men and women simply love James Bond for his suave looks and sheer audacity. His books sold millions even after his death and cinemas were packed whenever a James Bond movie is shown. His influence is seen in other novels about spies and espionage, including the movies about the Jason Bourne character.

Ian Fleming was ranked 14th among the 50 Greatest British Writers. In 2011, the president of Jamaica named an international airport after him – Ian Fleming International Airport near Oracabessa.

All Gabriel Allon fans will be eagerly anticipating this one - your favourite spy is back in The New Girl, coming to bookshelves in mid-July. In this one, a girl is kidnapped from an exclusive private school in Switzerland and Gabriel Allon is brought on board to find her. More Details.

Recommendations

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Featured Series

if you are a fan of Jack Reacher you need to read the "Peter Ash" series by Nick Petrie. Endorsed by Lee Child himself, this is a fantastic book series and is the best recommendation I can give for any fans of Reacher. More details.

Featured Author

If you’re a fan of standalone thrillers then be sure to read any of the standalones by Brad Parks. The guy is a master! I’ve read over 50 different authors of standalone thrillers in the last year and no-one stands out like Brad. More Details.

Did You Know…

There was a strong possibility that we would never have got a classic book such as The Da Vinci Code. Author Dan Brown was a pop musician initially, and even relocated to Hollywood in an attempt to continue that career. However his kids version of electronic music never caught on, and he ended up becoming an author.